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Published on: 9/2/2004
Last Visited: 9/2/2004
The acts took place from May 1999 until June 2003 during the father's parental visits in the United States, according to the lead prosecutor in the case, Capt. Josh Burgess.
However, there is evidence some acts may have occurred before that time frame, Burgess said.
The trial was held in Louisiana to limit the stress on the girl, who had just begun the school year when the trial started.Also, Burgess said, the Air Force does not have subpoena power over witnesses in the United States for cases overseas.
Burgess, chief of administrative and operations law at RAF Lakenheath, called the acts particularly "predatory and opportunistic."
"She testified that he said she could tell [about the acts] if she wanted to, but he would get in a lot of trouble, and she would probably never see him again," Burgess said.
The crime came to light when a friend, whom the victim had told of her father's behavior, passed the girl a note during school in January.
A teacher intercepted the note, which made a reference to the acts.
The teacher sent the girl to a counselor, Burgess said, and the 48th Fighter Wing was eventually contacted.
Burgess described the victim as bright and courageous throughout the whole ordeal.
She testified via remote live video hook-up, which prevented her from having to face her father.
Although the case was largely the girl's word against that of her father, "the jury found her a credible witness," Burgess said.
Burgess said the panel of three officers and three enlisted members deliberated for more than six hours before reaching the verdict.
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